Miller Hasn't Delivered

David Miller: Progress Report

Updated Tue. Nov. 7 2006 12:55 PM ET

CTV.ca News Staff

Mayor David Miller's pursuit to be re-elected on Nov. 13 will hinge on the progress he has or hasn't made during his rookie three-year term.

While some political analysts predict he will have a hard time convincing Toronto voters he has done a good job and deserves the chance to continue his agenda, a recent poll for CTV shows a majority of residents are satisfied with his progress.

Below is an assessment of Miller's past term in office.

Crime and policing

Campaigned on: Though he had no formal policy statement on crime, Miller said he wanted to place more officers on city streets.

He did not promise to hire more officers but was going to realign assignments and it wasn't until Councillor Thompson dragged him, and McGinty, hollering and screaming did they hire more officers. Also he manipulated the TPSB to fire Fantino.

Delivered: During his term, Miller increased the police budget by $117 million and placed 450 officers on the streets. He has, however, been criticized for doing so only after gun violence exploded in 2005, the so-called "summer of the gun," where 52 people died at the hands of a firearm. The year ended with the tragic death of 15-year-old Jane Creba, who was killed in the crossfire of a shootout between rival gang members on Yonge Street on Boxing Day. Miller took heat for not sitting on the Police Services Board until the second half of his term, despite the rise in gun violence. Opponents also say many officers will be retiring soon, which will lead to more crime because Miller says there is no money to replace these officers once they are gone. Although the crime rate has declined during Miller's term, police say sweeping raids and keeping suspected gang members behind bars is the reason street violence is down in 2006

Integrity

Toronto Mayor-elect David Miller holds up a broom at his victory celebration in Toronto on Monday, November 10, 2003. (CP / Frank Gunn)

Campaigned on: Miller celebrated his mayoral win clutching a broom, vowing to "clean up" city hall following the MFP computer leasing scandal, which revealed cronyism and unfair contract practices. He was one of the councillors who led the fight for an inquiry. Miller said he would hire an integrity commissioner for city hall.

Delivered: No new scandals have become known since Miller has taken office. He created the position of integrity commissioner. He has, however, been criticized for the $710 million contract with Bombardier for new subway cars, which was not tendered. Opponents also criticize Miller for his efforts to keep a report on the future of the Gardiner Expressway secret, and not disclosing the price tag of a plan to purchase a southwestern Ontario landfill.

Enough said.

Island airport

Campaigned on: Miller campaigned hard to stop the building of a bridge to the Toronto City Centre Airport and expanding the facility. He argued any growth would have been destructive to the surrounding environment and most residents did not want it.

Delivered: Soon after his election win, he led council to reverse its previous support for the island airport structure. His achievement, however, may be overshadowed with the creation of Porter Airlines this year, which will increase traffic at the island airport with its daily flights.

No one north of Bloor Street cared.

The Waterfront

Campaigned on: Revitalizing the waterfront, a long-term goal.

Delivered: Projects including better promenades, boardwalks, public places and related attractions have begun, but have not been completed. In April 2005, Miller encouraged city council to begin work on a bid to host the 2015 World Expo, saying the event would help Toronto's plans for waterfront revitalization. Councillors approved the plan this spring, and launched a bid in May. Miller has been criticized for not doing enough to beautify the waterfront in his first term, with opponents saying his revitalization projects were too slow in coming and will take a long time to complete.

We would have had a better shot of Mel had been here.

Garbage

Campaigned on: Miller supported expanding the green-bin program and other city waste-diversion initiatives. He said this would ultimately stop the hauling of trash to Michigan, and the garbage could instead be sent to smaller landfills in southwestern Ontario.

Delivered: Miller insists the city has made "incredible" strides in reducing the amount of waste going to landfills and being shipped across the border. He notes the number of trucks hauling trash to Michigan has dropped from 143 a day to about 80. Miller credits the reduction to the city's green bin organic waste program, as well as the blue and grey box initiatives. Recently, Miller backed the purchase of the Green Lane landfill near London as the future site for Toronto's garbage, which councillors approved 26-12. The deal carries a price tag of hundreds of millions of dollars and has outraged some London politicians, including the city's mayor.

Even city officials admit they will have a hard time meeting the 60% diversion rate so we will continue shipping garbage on the 401.

Taxes and the budget

Campaigned on: Miller said he would limit property-tax increases to the rate of inflation.

Delivered: He kept his promise to keep property tax increases at three per cent during his first three budgets, despite the consensus of local politicians and analysts who said the city needed to increase its residential property tax base to eliminate budget shortfalls. Miller appointed conservative councillor David Soknacki as the city's budget chief, and together they have balanced the budget, despite inheriting a $344 million shortfall in April 2004. However, Soknacki is not seeking re-election, and said he will back contender Jane Pitfield. Some of Miller's critics blamed him for the loss of Soknacki.

How many senior beauracrats have left because of Miller?

New Deal for Cities

Campaigned: Miller said he would work to build alliances with other mayors in Ontario and across the country to present a united front to other levels of government.

Delivered: He welcomed former prime minister Paul Martin's new federal cabinet in late 2003 because Martin was the first PM to directly address municipal issues. Miller endorsed the Martin government's "New Deal for Cities" plan and continually works with the federal and provincial governments for a better deal for cities. He lobbied the province to create the new City of Toronto Act, which gives the city more legislative and licensing powers. Miller also secured a share of the gas tax from both the provincial and federal governments that will put almost $200 million into the TTC over the next two years. He has shored up support from other municipalities and is on good terms with other mayors.

He has no friends in Ottawa and his relationship with Queen's Park is tenuous.

Housing

Campaigned on: Miller proposed building 1,000 new supportive housing units and 1,000 units of affordable housing each year. He also supported retrofitting abandoned buildings for housing units.

Delivered: He convened a summit on affordable housing in February 2004 and secured $24 million in funding from the provincial government to build more than 900 units of housing for low-to-middle income earners. Council later approved $13.6 million for new housing projects, creating 312 new homes. Miller brought forward a series of measures to provide shelter and warmth for the city's homeless during the winter months in 2004, and in early 2005, he helped steer a motion through council that banned the homeless from sleeping in Nathan Phillips Square as a way to direct the homeless to shelters.

Miller developed the "Streets to Homes" outreach program, which has helped hundreds of homeless people find permanent apartments since December 2005. In February 2006, he began a housing renewal project in for the Regent Park community, and signed an agreement with the federal government that will create 1,000 new units of affordable housing.

People are still sleeping on grates in the downtown core. Panhandling has spread across the whole city.

Public transit

Campaigned on: Miller wanted to introduce new buses to city streets and increase service on busy routes. Miller said he would introduce new fare rates through weekly passes and extended day passes and reduce the cost of the Metropass by $5 in 2005.

Delivered: He established new routes in Scarborough, Etobicoke, North York and York. Miller secured funding for a new subway to York University and beyond. He has instituted both the transferable and weekly TTC Metropass, reducing costs, but has been criticized for two fare hikes during his term. He said the solution to avoid price increases is getting the Ontario government to return to its former policy of funding 50 per cent of the system's operating subsidy. Miller took part in negotiations with the federal and provincial governments in 2004, which resulted in $1 billion in additional funding for the cash-strapped TTC, to be paid over five years.

Arts and culture

Campaigned on: Miller campaigned as a strong advocate for culture and entertainment, and wanted to raise the city's profile in the arts.

Delivered: The city has increased its contributions to the Toronto Arts Council from $8.5 million in 2004 to $9.2 million in 2006. Under his watch, funding for major arts institutions such as the National Ballet, the Canadian Opera Company and the Art Gallery of Ontario was increased by $800,000 over two years. Miller has been a visible, public supporter of arts and culture, even appearing on the cover of Fab, a gay magazine, for its 2004 Pride issue. A number of projects have also been created under Miller's watch, including the recent Nuit Blanche event, The Luminato Festival, Live with Culture, and Arts in the Hood. Other initiatives include the Mayor's Roundtable on Arts and Culture, a group of industry leaders who help guide Toronto's policies on culture, and the Toronto Film Board, a group of politicians and film industry workers who lobby for the local industry.

No mention of his involvement in the loss of a major film studio.